Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP15481’

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by large pink flowers with large white eyes, and a semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP15481’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEVP15481’. ‘KLEVP15481’ originated from across-pollination conducted in January 2011 in Cobbitty, New SouthWales, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘V9113’(unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety ‘V974’(unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation,where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP15481’ was selected from thegroup of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October 2011.

In October 2011, ‘KLEVP15481’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative stem cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.‘KLEVP15481’ was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

-   -   1. Large pink flowers with large white eyes; and    -   2. A semi-upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photograph is of a 13-week-old plant grown in a greenhousein Stuttgart, Germany in July 2013.

The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEVP15481’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inCobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Data was collected onthree-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Cobbitty, New SouthWales, Australia in June 2015 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2007.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.        -   Botanical.—Verbena×hybrida.        -   Common.—Verbena.        -   Designation.—‘KLEVP15481’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female verbena variety            ‘V9113’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male verbena variety ‘V974’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Height (from top of soil).—36.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—41.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—RHS 155B (White); fine and fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—Around 20.        -   Length.—26.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.26 cm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 130D.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescent, round.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A.            Lower surface: RHS 141C.        -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.        -   Venation type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D.            Texture: Leathery.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS N74B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—7 to 10 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Length of inflorescence.—4.2 cm.        -   Diameter of inflorescence.—5.4 cm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—More than 14.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.-   Florets:    -   -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Glossy.        -   Form.—Single.        -   Corolla tube length.—1.3 cm.        -   Corolla tube color (outer surface).—RHS 56A.        -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.4 cm. Diameter of lobe: 1.3 cm.            Lobe shape: Round. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy,            satiny. Color: Immature: Upper surface: RHS 61C. Lower            surface: RHS 63B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS N57C. Lower            surface: RHS 70C. Eyes: RHS 155B.        -   Pedicels.—Not visible.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—0.45 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.36 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141C.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4. Color: RHS 139D. Filament            length: 0.5 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther: Shape:            Elliptic. Color: RHS 150B. Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm.            Pollen amount: Moderate.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm.            Stigma: Color: RHS 144A. Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm.            Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 139C. Length: 0.9 cm.            Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew    (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP15481’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male parentCharacteristic ‘KLEVP15481’ ‘V9113’ ‘V974’ Flower color Pink Red PinkFlower size Larger than Smaller than Smaller than ‘V9113’ and ‘V974’‘KLEVP15481’ ‘KLEVP15481’

‘KLEVP15481’ is most similar to the commercial verbena ‘Balazwilro’,also known commercially as ‘Aztec Wild Rose’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,101). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP15481’‘Balazwilro’ Appearance of eyes Large, white eyes Small, white eyesImmediate color RHS 76B (Light-violet) None bordering eyes

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated‘KLEVP15481’ as illustrated and described herein.